What kinds of homes are in Berkeley, CA?

Name: Types of homes in Berkeley, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Berkeley, CA has 53,145 (±1,003) homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is about 5,094 homes per square mile of land.

40.4% are detached single-family houses.

17.8% are in buildings of two to four units.

38.1% are in buildings of five or more units.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Housing units: 53,145 (±1,003)
Detached houses: 40.4%
2–4 unit buildings: 17.8%
5+ unit buildings: 38.1%

Homes in Berkeley by building size

Housing units by units in structure, 2020–2024
Building type	Berkeley	Alameda County	California	United States
Single-family, detached	40.4% (±1.3 points)	51.0%	57.0%	61.3%
Single-family, attached (townhouse, rowhouse)	3.5% (±0.5 points)	8.8%	7.4%	6.2%
2 units	7.2% (±0.8 points)	3.6%	2.4%	3.4%
3 or 4 units	10.6% (±1.0 points)	6.5%	5.4%	4.3%
5 to 9 units	8.9% (±1.0 points)	5.2%	5.7%	4.5%
10 to 19 units	9.1% (±0.9 points)	4.9%	4.9%	4.3%
20 or more units	20.1% (±1.3 points)	18.7%	13.6%	10.3%
Mobile home	0.2% (±0.2 points)	1.3%	3.5%	5.6%
Boat, RV, van, etc.	0.1% (±0.1 points)	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%

In Berkeley, the share of homes in buildings of five or more units is higher than in Alameda County (28.8%).

It is also higher than in California (24.2%).

It is higher than the national figure (19.1%).

Homes in buildings of 5 or more units in places near Berkeley

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Berkeley
Place	Distance	Homes in buildings of 5 or more units	Compared with this place
Berkeley	—	38.1% (±1.9 points)	—
Emeryville	1.9 mi	82.0% (±5.7 points)	Higher
Albany	2.0 mi	34.7% (±3.4 points)	Not measurably different
Kensington	2.8 mi	0.0% (±3.3 points)	Lower
El Cerrito	3.7 mi	17.0% (±2.2 points)	Lower
Piedmont	4.8 mi	1.3% (±1.9 points)	Lower
East Richmond Heights	5.5 mi	0.0% (±5.0 points)	Lower
Richmond	6.9 mi	19.1% (±2.0 points)	Lower
Rollingwood	7.1 mi	5.5% (±7.7 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Kensington, CA (0.0%), El Cerrito, CA (17.0%), Piedmont, CA (1.3%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Emeryville, CA (82.0%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes in buildings of 5 or more units across Alameda County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes in buildings of 5 or more units
1	Emeryville	82.0% (±5.7 points)
2	Ashland	41.7% (±5.6 points)
3	Berkeley	38.1% (±1.9 points)
4	Oakland	36.0% (±0.9 points)
5	Albany	34.7% (±3.4 points)
6	Alameda	30.3% (±2.2 points)
7	Hayward	27.3% (±1.6 points)
8	Dublin	26.7% (±2.3 points)
9	Fremont	25.7% (±1.2 points)

Showing 9 of 19 places in Alameda County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Berkeley

How many homes are in Berkeley?

Berkeley, CA has an estimated 53,145 (±1,003) housing units, occupied and vacant (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Are most homes in Berkeley houses or apartments?

40.4% are detached houses and 3.5% attached houses, while 55.9% are in buildings of two or more units.

How many two-family and small multifamily homes are in Berkeley?

17.8% of homes in Berkeley are in buildings of two to four units, the small rental buildings that are often owner-occupied.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Berkeley city, California

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Berkeley city, California (place:06000, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0007PE, DP04_0007PM, DP04_0008PE, DP04_0008PM, DP04_0009PE, DP04_0009PM, DP04_0010PE, DP04_0010PM, DP04_0011PE, DP04_0011PM, DP04_0012PE, DP04_0012PM, DP04_0013PE, DP04_0013PM, DP04_0014PE, DP04_0014PM, DP04_0015PE, DP04_0015PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.